Are we going to have field trips ever again?

[Anonymous]

All other schools have been doing field trip, embrace the socialist republic of Montgomery

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:not much learning is done during your typical field trip, so i don't miss them.

they need to do away with virtual field trips - they are an absolute waste of time. if they must do something with a screen, they should just put on a natgeo video.

School is so much more than just about learning. Field trips are valuable because they provide kids with new experiences, social interactions and fun. There’s nothing wrong with plain fun.

Some people on this forum also seem to forget that many kids don’t get The same opportunities that many of our kids get. They don’t get to go to the zoo unless it’s with school. They don’t get to go to the Strathmore unless it’s with the school, they will never get the opportunity to experience, name your field trip, unless it’s with a school.

+1. This is spot on. I am the earlier poster of my kid going to the playground to see some farm animals. I know that my kid is privilege as she has gone to many petting farms and so seeing some animals at school is no big deal. However, I do know that not all parents do that kind of stuff, even if they can afford it. We take our kids to places all the time, and yet I want her to go on field trips. It's a different experience going on field trips with friends than with family. As I said earlier, it all depends on the principals. It is okay with MCPS officially to have parent volunteers, and some schools posted the link for parents to do volunteer training on their websites. Meanwhile at our ES, there is absolutely NO mention of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, it all depends on the individual principals. We didn’t either. They brought farm animals to the school playground and that was our “field trip.” I kid you not, they call it that and we paid for it and signed a permission slip so that my kid can to the school playground to pet some animals. I know of someone who attends Whetstone ES and their kids have real field trips. I don’t know why it varies so much from school to school.

You paid for what? Not the field trip. Those are provided as part of a free public education. Maybe you contributed to the principal's slush fund, but that was your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids get more group field trips homeschooling. Parents plan about 1 each month, most kids attend. I can’t imagine not having any all year. Very sad.

I agree, forcing children to isolate themselves from their peers all under the guise of "home schooling" IS incredibly sad. Child abuse is always sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's elementary still hasn't gone on a single field trip since Covid. I know they are "allowed" now so clearly they have made the decision as a school not to.

If your elementary school has also had no fields trips have they given any indication about next year?

Our elementary school just had a trip to the kids museum. It was really wonderful

That's not a field trip. That's a political pay back to Josh Starr. He's on the board and the company is owned by Joftus' wife.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:not much learning is done during your typical field trip, so i don't miss them.

they need to do away with virtual field trips - they are an absolute waste of time. if they must do something with a screen, they should just put on a natgeo video.

School is so much more than just about learning. Field trips are valuable because they provide kids with new experiences, social interactions and fun. There’s nothing wrong with plain fun.

Some people on this forum also seem to forget that many kids don’t get The same opportunities that many of our kids get. They don’t get to go to the zoo unless it’s with school. They don’t get to go to the Strathmore unless it’s with the school, they will never get the opportunity to experience, name your field trip, unless it’s with a school.

+100

Plus, some of my favorite childhood memories are field trips. Its way different going to a museum with your friends vs your family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's elementary still hasn't gone on a single field trip since Covid. I know they are "allowed" now so clearly they have made the decision as a school not to.

If your elementary school has also had no fields trips have they given any indication about next year?

Our elementary school just had a trip to the kids museum. It was really wonderful

That's not a field trip. That's a political pay back to Josh Starr. He's on the board and the company is owned by Joftus' wife.

I'm sorry you feel you have to politicize this but my kids really enjoyed it and found it educational. It's an amazing resource that benefits our children.

[Anonymous]

I really hope our school has them again, although we never had many, even in the Before Times. Our past principal was VERY protective of teachers’ time, and the new one follows in her footsteps. We generally love the school, so overall we’ll take the trade-off, but a field trip here or there would be great. And, yes, I’m glad to take the day off work to help chaperone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's elementary still hasn't gone on a single field trip since Covid. I know they are "allowed" now so clearly they have made the decision as a school not to.

If your elementary school has also had no fields trips have they given any indication about next year?

Our elementary school just had a trip to the kids museum. It was really wonderful

That's not a field trip. That's a political pay back to Josh Starr. He's on the board and the company is owned by Joftus' wife.

I'm sorry you feel you have to politicize this but my kids really enjoyed it and found it educational. It's an amazing resource that benefits our children.

Sorry you were a pawn in MoCo politics. Facts are facts. How much did you pay for your child to be a political pawn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:not much learning is done during your typical field trip, so i don't miss them.

they need to do away with virtual field trips - they are an absolute waste of time. if they must do something with a screen, they should just put on a natgeo video.

School is so much more than just about learning. Field trips are valuable because they provide kids with new experiences, social interactions and fun. There’s nothing wrong with plain fun.

Some people on this forum also seem to forget that many kids don’t get The same opportunities that many of our kids get. They don’t get to go to the zoo unless it’s with school. They don’t get to go to the Strathmore unless it’s with the school, they will never get the opportunity to experience, name your field trip, unless it’s with a school.

+1. This is spot on. I am the earlier poster of my kid going to the playground to see some farm animals. I know that my kid is privilege as she has gone to many petting farms and so seeing some animals at school is no big deal. However, I do know that not all parents do that kind of stuff, even if they can afford it. We take our kids to places all the time, and yet I want her to go on field trips. It's a different experience going on field trips with friends than with family. As I said earlier, it all depends on the principals. It is okay with MCPS officially to have parent volunteers, and some schools posted the link for parents to do volunteer training on their websites. Meanwhile at our ES, there is absolutely NO mention of that.

yes, i get that some kids don't get the opportunity to go to these cultural places, and that it's a different experience to go to these places with just your classmates. however, since my kids go to these places all the time and spend plenty of time with just their peers, i'm completely fine field trips are not a thing with many schools anymore.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I'm so glad so many of your schools are doing field trips. I am aware that this is happening-that is why I asked the question. My question was for those of you whose schools are not having field trips, have they mentioned they would start them again next year?

[Anonymous]

Our MS had them but not our ES.

Just wait until your kid is in ES and take them on trips yourself until then.

[Anonymous]

In ES before covid, we were lucky if kids got one field trip a year. It varies by school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm so glad so many of your schools are doing field trips. I am aware that this is happening-that is why I asked the question. My question was for those of you whose schools are not having field trips, have they mentioned they would start them again next year?

Principal and teachers. They are a nightmare to organize so many don't want to do them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's elementary still hasn't gone on a single field trip since Covid. I know they are "allowed" now so clearly they have made the decision as a school not to.

If your elementary school has also had no fields trips have they given any indication about next year?

My kids K and 3rd each had one and 2 field trips respectively. Its school by school!!